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BY ELLA, 




•"it rules the court, the camp, the grove. 
And men below, and saints above ; 
i\>r love is Heaven, and Heaven is love. 

" H marked where the bolt of Cupid fell- 
It fell upon a little Western flower, 
Before milk white, now purple, with 

Love's wound, 
And maidens call it Love in idlenes?." 



I I 



NEW-YORK: 

T. J. CROW EN. 

1849. 



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By the magic of thy name 

Ne'er breathed to mortal ear, 

And by my many treasured thoughts, 

By many a bitter tear. — 

And by those gentle smiles of thine, 

Thy soft eyes, magic glance, 

And by the music of thy voice, 

Whose tones, each word enhance — 

I woo thee ; but to thee unknown, 

I mix amid the crowd — 

And murmur can'st thou love me, sweet ? 

In accents deep — not loud — 

Oh! could'st thou? I thy slave will be, 

And worship at thy shrine, 

Love's holy altar, is it not 

Thine heart ? Sweet Valentine ! 



Those words are murm'ring round me still, 

E'en to this heart of mine — 

Yet, I have never gazed on thee, 

Rejoicing thou wert mine ; 

But brighter is my destiny 

Thus dreaming, still of thee, 

Than if a joyless life I passed 

'Mid power and luxury. 

I prize thee for thy manly grace= — 

I prize thee for thy truth ; 

Forgive my boldness — love me still, 

Mine heart is thine, dear youth ; 

And when full many years have passed, 

Will thou still call me thine ? 

And bless the day you called me so, 

My noble Valentine ? 



What shall I do to please thee, Love ? 

Exert thy power at will, — 

At thy command, I'd fly to death — 

And dying, love thee still. 

I have a proud, but honest heart, 

Oh ! Aveigh it in affection' s scale, 

It doih not sue with guileful art, 

Let gentle Love prevail. 

Mv rival layeth at thy feet 

Each precious gem ; my humble lot 

Hath naught to proffer, but the flower. 

Love's sweet Forget-me-not! 

Choose, then, what gift, wilt thou call thine, 

Rich gems ? or mine ? thy Valentine. 



Kind sir — dark hair looks well with pearlsj 
And gems look bright in jetty curls ; 
So, on my life ! I can't refuse — 
And must, perforce, the diamonds choose. 
Flowers will fade and love decay, 
But gems shine with undying rav ; 
With many a curtsey I decline 
To take thee for mv Valentine. 



Oh ! give me your smiles, for I never could 

brook 
To see on thy face such a cold, scornful look ; 
But if not, then take mine, I even must laugh 
When I think that I ever could be such a calf 
As to sigh for a stick, or a stone to be mine, 
I'm quite cured, and I am not, ma'm, thy 

Valentine. 



I will give you my smiles ; 

I always have thought 

You as green as a Caty-did 

Ere it was caught ; 

But much I do wonder 

How e'er you could laugh ; 

I never expected so much from a calf. 

But farewell, on the grass 

A la pic-nic go dine — 

I'll have none such suitors 

For mv Valentine. 



We seldom meet at gay soirees, 
Where mirth and music charm the soul ; 
We never meet amid the Park, 
And arm in arm around it stroll. 
Why is it so ? — pray what's estranged 
Thine heart — ah ! tell me why thou'st changed ? 
Wert thou but flirting ? art thou mine ? 
As I am — thy true Valentine ! 



Come at the twilight's witching hour, 
Or whilst the moonbeams calmly shine, 
Or, when earth is lit by the sun's bright power, 
And be my Valentine. 



Come to me at the midnight hour, 

When spirits of earth and heaven have power, 

To the magic circle, where fairies will tell 

The name of her I love so well ; 

And oh, if the Fairy should whisper thine, 

Would you turn in scorn from thy Valentine ? 



I'll come, I'll come, lest the charm should fail- 
Be ready then, with a true love tale, 
And I'll care not for fairy's nor witch's spel, 
When I gaze on the one I love so well ; 
He's a bold wizard, who woos love of mine, 
And that wizard thou art, my wild Valentine. 



Some woo with words, but I with money 
"lis passing strange, 'tis very funny — 
But gold will open Beauty's door, 
As you have often heard before ; 
Oh ! would that it may open thine, 
Take all my wealth, fair Valentine. 



Keep your money — keep your pelf, 
Take away your ugly self — 
I'd rather work from morn 'till night, 
Than marry such an ugly wight. 
Cross grained too, I should be to blame- 
Thee for a Valentine, oh ! shame. 



2* 



10 



Pretty, rich and such a Belle 
With you right in love I fell, 
Will you have me ? to he thine, 
I'll make a handsome Valentine. 



Handsome, manly, but so poor, 
Poverty for Love's a cure. 
No, I cannot call thee mine, 
I do not want a Valentine. 



u 



Lady, throw up thy window — and list to my 
sigh — 

I'm never far from thee, still sauntering nigh — 

Alas ! whilst the Stars shine, or falleth the 
dew, 

I must love thee — then smile on a passion so 
true, 

Let a welcome beam forth from those soft eyes 
of thine, 

And whisper, dear one, I'm thine own Valen- 
tine. 



Why send me Valentines again, 
Thou vainest of all silly men ? 
No smiles of mine shall greet thy view, 
You'd bow the same to more than two, 
Aye, twenty have refused thy hand, 
And thinkest thou, at thy command, 
I'd listen to such love as thine, 
No — choose another Valentine, 



12 



Up and down the street I wander, 
On thee, charming girl, to ponder ; 
All the study that I prize, 
Is the language of thine eyes. 
'Tis not Greek, Hebrew, or Latin, 
But it is as soft as satin, , 
Love's own language is it not ? 
(Or I have my love forgot,) 
It seems to say, dear youth, I'm thine- 
Be this year my Valentine. 



XVIII. 

Thou hast read Love's language rightly- 
I am thine, and only thine, 
O'er my bosom purely, brightly 
Shines affection's light divine f- 
Take my hand, my heart is thine — 
Be my constant Valentine. 



13 



Thy feet ave rather large, my dear, 

Thy form is much too fat ; 

But then you have a heavy purse, 

And all agrees with that : 

Then scorn me not, if I thus prize, 

And honestly, like a true sinner. 

Prefer substantiate to Love's fare, 

Smiles, tears, but oh ! no dinner. 

I'll put thy money out to nurse ; 

I'll nurse thee too, when thou art ailing. 

Come tell me then, thou wilt be mine ; — 

Excuse my only failing — 

I love mine ease, thou shalt have thine — 

Come take my hand, my Valentine. 



Thou mean and sordid elf ! I blush 

When thy red hair I see, 

And nose tipped with a rosy flush, — 

Ha ! ha ! — 'twill never be. 

I'll keep my houses and my land ; 

I'll hold my stock secure, in fine ; 

My purse is safe in mine own hand — 

Begone, Sir Valentine ! 



14 



You may coquet with all you see ; 

Do'nt think that it will trouble me. 

I, as a Beau, have many strings, 

And know full well, how each chord rings, 

But you shall have no ring of mine, 

Ma' Belle ; I'm not your Yalentine. 



A Beau will break, and strings will crack 
And when you're taken thus aback, 
You'll wring your hands and sigh for me, 
Whilst I shall sing fiddle de de. 
The Beau is broken — the board hath gone, 
And the poor Base Instrument will raoura 
My hand shall not Love's chords awaken : 
Sweet Valentine, you are forsaken. 



If you were not so old, and your head was 

not bald, 
I would not mind by your name being called ; 
But, Sir, 'tis impossible — 'tis on my life ! 
I cannot consent to becoming your wife. 
ISTo, no ; do not think I could ever be thine — 
I am now looking out for a young Yalentine. 



15 



If your teeth "were your own 

You might talk of my head ; 

But I'll not be rude 

If you are so ill bred ; 

But this I can tell you, 

Though bald heads are shocking, 

What think you of girls 

With large holes in each stocking ? 

Holes love would fall through, and such ones 

are thine. 
Oh ! I'll have no sloven for my Valentine. 



Resting awhile on Mem'ry's tide 
The visioned past may float along, 
And thoughts and feelings with it glide 
A passionless and faded throng, 
So has it passed this love of mine. 
" The baseless fabric," ruined, lies, 
And I am not thy Valentine 
Nor slave of those bold eyes. 



16 



I would I were a fairy, 

Or had a fairy's power, 

(Not that I care to lire on dew, 

Or sleep within a flower) 

But I wish I were a fairy 

To make you kinder prove, 

Then, you should listen to my vow 

And give me all your love. 

In truth, you'd find your Valentine 

A constant one and true, 

For it wounds me e'en in these few lines 

To bid you, Love, adieu. 



Will you love me for myself alone, 
And love me very truly ? 
You all are apt to promise this 
When you have loved but newly. 
I'll plight thee here an honest heart, 
A heart that feels sincerely, 
I never thought I could have loved, 
As I do love thee dearly. 
Then see me kneeling at thy feet, 
In heart and soul thine only — 
Oh, take me for your Valentine, 
I own I'm very lonely. 



17 



xx. 

Love bringetli thoughts, that make their own 

distress, v 

It bringeth dreams too, full of happiness, 
And hopes that fall, like dew-drops o'er the 

Rose — 
Sweet Valentine, let Love with hope repose. 



The birds pour forth their soul in song 

Song murmurs on the breeze — 

Each Zephyr, as it flies along, 

Kisseth the fluttering trees. 

If Love and Song have so much power 

On trees and birds, can mine 

Win thee, sweet cousin, (Beauty's flower) 

To be my Valentine ? 



If ladies could be won by song — 

And flutter like a leaf, — 

Then you and I could jog along 

Without a thought of grief. 

Alas ! I am no bird or flower, 

But a poor, simple Maid, 

(That never felt Love's wondrous power) 

Of Valentine, afraid. 



18 



I never would object to love, 
If you would not coquet ; 
And even that I might forgive — 
But oh, can I forget ? 
The coffee cold— the toast still worse 
The large hole in your stocking ; 
The grease spots on the table-cloth- 
Each one and all so shocking ? 
The curl papers upon your head 
At two o'clock — fie, fie ; 
No Valentine coidd woo thee thus— 
I could not should I try. 



I am sure I do not wish your love 
With that bush upon your face, 
When a lap-dog I should venture on, 
'T' would be a dog of grace — 
Then take a lady's kind advice, 
From that vile screen step out : 
We cannot tell behind it what 
Your features are about. 
A Valentine don't scandalize 
Those innocent dear creatures, 
For we can see their eyes quite plain 
Without hunting for their features. 



19 



XXV. 

Oh ! I -would ask no other skies 
Than the dark one now clouding o'er me 
My heaven then, would be thine eyes, 
If thou wert ever thus before me. 
Oh, dearest one, e'en by the heart 
That palpitates when thou art near, 
And trembles, ever loth to part, 
Be my Valentine this year ? 



Ha, ha, — I vow you make me laugh 

So sentimental grown ; 

What draught of nectar you must quaff, 

To make you so high flown. 

But if you'll keep to making money, 

And all such trash throw by, 

Your Valentine by all that's, funny 

I'll be, or let me die. 



You are not very lovely, 

Your orbs are quite awry ; 

I can't tell when you look at me, 

Although I come quite nigh. 

Cross looks I never could endure, 

And yours are rather cross ; 

But I'll take you for my Valentine 

If your father will endorse. 



20 



If my looks are cross, pray look at home, 

Although you are deep read, 

Your learning made such progress, that 

It tinged nose, hair, and head. 

If I called you my Valentine, 

My heart with grief would quiver ; 

You'd better go and dig for gold 

By the Sacrimento River. 



Blush not, that from thine eyes were told 
A tale thy lips would deem too bold 
Nor let those treacherous lips deny 
What's written in that tell-tale eye, 
Then smiling say, dear Valentine, 
Believe me I am wholly thine. 



In truth I have forgotten thee ; 

Believe me, I regret 

That when you say such pretty things 

Thy looks I should forget — 

My eyes must be deceiving, sir — 

I'm sure I'll not denj'- 

What they may tell, but I am not 

Your Valentine, not I. 



21 



Would } t ou but dance the Polka 

With any sort of grace, 

Or even the Redowa, 

I might forgive the face, 

But awkward and so ugly 

Without a word to say, 

I'll not be at your door 

On — St. Valentine's fair day. 



XXXII. 

If you could fence — or box, Sir — 
Ride, drive, or fire a gun — 
Or play the flute or sing, Sir — 
Or of these, any one — 
I might forgive your folly 
And your awkward shuffling feet 
But I hope that for a Valentine 
You — I may never meet. 



I would like to be your Valentine 
But you're too fond of stitching, 
You're ever at the worsted work, 
That you think so bewitching. 
If you'll forget your crotchet stick 
Put crotchets out your brain, 
I'll come and visit at your house 
As your Valentine again. 



22 



I can work a worsted Romeo, 

Whom I prefer to you, 

And the flattest note in my guitar 

(Upon my life 'tis true) 

Seems sharper than your senses are 

And soft as your dull head. 

Oh. no, Sir, here on earth, I'll not 

Be by a monkey led. 

XXX v . 

Can you look with coldness on the' brow 

Where Love's true seal is set ? 

Or bid me turn from passion's row 

And struggle to forget ? 

Can I forget thy looks, thy tone, 

(Nor die beneath despair) 

Alas ! my love too wildly shown 

Proves thou art but too fair. 

No more can reason's calm control 

Hold empire o'er my breast — 

But yield thee, as my Valentine 

And I shall then be blest. 



XXXV. 

No, never speak of love to me — 
Diana's Slave am I — 
Or in plain English an old maid, 
Sir Valentine, good bye. 



23 



x x x v i r . 
The world is a wilderness, barren and dreary, 
But still 'mid its sands, a pure streamlet may 

flow, 
And I'm sure if you love me, I'll never grow 

Aveary, 
Be my Valentine then, and so happy we'll 

grow, 
And if e'er o'er my brow, one dark shadow 

were stealing, 
One smile from those sweet lips would bid it 

depart. 
Could Heaven e'er form thee so glowing with 

feeling 
To refuse me ? oh no, Love, you have not the 

heart. 



XXXVIII. 

Mercy — I yield, I yield — 
Against Love, I have no shield — 
Bind me with Hymen's chain 
Ever captive to remain. 
Laughing loves and joys entwine 
A garland for thy Valentine. 



24 



'Tis Cupid's holiday — come buy 

A Valentine, sweet girl, 

Come choose me, I have coal black eyes 

And locks that love to curl. 

Six feet without my high-heel'd boots, 

A distangue Moustache — 

There's one thing, I will own, I want 

That dross, the world calls cash. 



I cannot, I love soft blue eyes 
And lips without a hair — 
Six feet is much too tall for me, 
Unless I mount a chair — 
And the very article you want, 
So selfish have I grown — 
I find too little for the wants 
I have, Sir, of my own — 
I fancy not a grenadier, 
No Valentine, seek I, this year. 



23 



Breathe but those words, beloved, come. 

And, as the pilgrim to his shrine 

The wild bird to its nest, 

So will my willing Spirit greet 

Those words so Avelcome and so sweet 

And seek with thee to rest. 

The breeze that passeth o'er my brow 

Perchance but late hath passed o'er thine. 

Did it not whisper in its course — 

Be, Love — mv Valentine ? 



Oh ! no, it cannot be, we've met 
As strangers meet, what could I see 
(In those cold looks and freezing smiles) 
Of ardent love for me ? 
No, no, those looks one moment wore 
A sunny radiance, 'twas a dream, 
Long past, no more a Valentine 
To me. vou e'er will seem. 



26 



Smile on me, Lady Love, once more, 
Nor turn the postman from the door, 
He lays Love's offering at your feet, 
An offering, for thy beauty meet — 
And when I see you pass my door, 
As you have often done before, 
I'll watch for you at half past nine 
And walk with my sweet Valentine. 



I've changed my mind, I did but flirt 
And hop(T, dear sir, you are not hurt, 
And as for passing by your door, 
Pray when did I do that before ? 
Your vanity has much misled 
Or you have been by fancy fed. 
Walk with you, Sir, at half past 
Excuse rae, not your Valentine. 



nine 



Flowers fade and youth decays — 

List then, Lady, to my lays — 

Gather up the buds of Love 

Ere the cold earth-winds have strove 

With their chilling blasts to sever 

From young Cupid's bowers forever 

Flowers, and Hearts, that should combine, 

And bloom forever in Sunshine. 

Catch my meaning, Lady dear, 

'Tis the young unsullied year ; 

Forget cold looks and then divine 

Who woo'st thee, sweetest Valentine. 



In Church, 1 gaze upon thy face, 
And think of thee, at one word, grace 
And that I will vouchsafe to you 
If you'll be constant, kind and true : 
The year is young and so art thou, 
1 know thee well, I've guessed thee now, 
If you will be my Valentine, 
I'm quite content to call you mini-. 



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